SA might miss its renewables target, but does it matter?
The poster child of Australia’s green energy transition has had its share of stress tests and could miss its target for net 100 per cent renewables by 2027. But what would the impact be?
Adelaide is set to host the COP31 climate summit, which would have allowed South Australia to showcase its green credentials internationally. However, Türkiye was chosen instead, and climate change has since been sidelined in the state's political conversations. Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis announced the beginning of construction on a new wind farm capable of powering up to 142,000 homes.
The minister hinted that South Australia might not achieve its 100% net renewable energy target by 2027, though he emphasized that hitting the target "when" is less important than the ambition itself. Renewables, mainly solar and wind, accounted for 77.1% of the state's net electricity generation in 2025, surpassing the previous target set for 2030.
The government's hydrogen project was abandoned a year after it was announced, and the lack of a transmission link has slowed down new wind farm projects. Despite this, the value of large-scale renewable energy and storage projects in SA has increased to nearly $32.5 billion. The Malinauskas government's focus on renewable energy has been praised, but there are concerns about maintaining reliability, affordability, and emission reductions.
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